Revised COVID-19 Protocol for School Year 2023-2024

MASK REQUIREMENT: Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) continue to recommend universal indoor masking especially for unvaccinated individuals. The CDC recently made a contact exception that states if a student is at school and they were wearing their mask consistently and correctly; then they do not have to be quarantined from school, provided they remain asymptomatic (free of COVID symptoms). School will continue to practice social distancing when possible.

SOCIAL DISTANCING: The CDC has also revised guidance and stated based on their research, that 3 feet of social distancing is adequate in the classroom when other prevention policies like universal masking are in place. The CDC recently made a contact exception that states if a student is at school and they were wearing their mask consistently and correctly; then they do not have to be quarantined from school, provided they remain asymptomatic (free of COVID symptoms).

ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULARS: Athletics will continue to follow GHSA recommendations and DPH, CDC, and GaDOE guidelines. Extracurricular clubs will follow CDC, DPH, and GaDOE guidelines. Students will be expected to wear masks when indoors participating in club events if social distancing is not possible.

If IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS are COVID positive, then children that live in the house with the COVID positive family member (parent, sibling, relative) should quarantine for 10 days without a COVID test or for 7 days if they have a negative COVID test. Students must wait until day 5 of quarantine to test and must provide COVID test results to the school nurse. Students should not come to school if they are exhibiting any COVID symptoms.

HOME INSTRUCTION: If a student is at home sick, we understand he/she may not feel like doing schoolwork, but the student should resume schoolwork as soon as possible. If a student is quarantined at home and feels fine, he/she should complete all required schoolwork as if he/she were at school. Classwork and homework should be completed and turned in within three days of returning to school.

SCHOOL NURSES will serve as contacts for all COVID-related reporting. It is VERY IMPORTANT that parents inform us any time a student or student’s family member tests positive for COVID-19. Students and staff that have COVID symptoms, have been exposed to a COVID positive member of their household for 15 minutes or more, or have a positive COVID test result should remain at home and follow DPH and CDC guidelines. Call our nurses at 229-365-7858 ext. 6 with questions or concerns.

Revised 7/1/2023